How to make old smartphones useful?

Smartphones, are an absolute necessity in today’s world. One of the most interesting things about smartphones is that they all seem to last around two years before they need to be retired. After which we end up buying new and better ones. Two years also happens to be just the right amount of time for companies to plan new versions or publish new models. Conspiracy or not, we all have to admit that during that time our phones always get to have a few bumps or scratches.

So when the time comes for us to buy new phones, it always leaves us with our old phone and a question: What to do with it? The most common answer that you will get is to sell it. Which is a good way to help out with the cost of buying new ones, but sometimes the amount you can get for your old phones is just too small that is not even worth selling. Instead of selling it, here are a few useful tips that you could use.

1. Always-On Skype Machine

If you have a decent Wi-Fi, your old smartphone could serve as a dedicated Skype interface or whatever video chat platform you prefer. This is a benefit because it guarantees you won’t miss a call and allows you to still use your main phone while conversing with friends and family.

2. TV Remote

Depending on what TV you have, there are tons of official app that you can install and use via Wi-Fi as a TV remote. That way even if you have one already, you can easily use this one too or have it as a spare one. You can also hook up to you Plex and Netflix.

3. Music Player

There are so many apps for streaming music services as well as radio applications that you can use. That way you can make your old phone a dedicated music player, with a Bluetooth speaker you can even make a decent party in the backyard. All you need is Internet access. This can also be very helpful as we always complain about how much space music takes up on our smartphones.

4. Use it as an offline GPS

If you don’t have a real GPS for your car or bike, you can easily transform an old phone into a GPS device. All you need is a proper navigation app with offline routing capabilities and stick for the phone. It won’t cost you anything and it won’t require internet either.

5. Alarm Clock

While you have your main phone busy, the old one can use only as your alarm clock. This can be very useful especially if you are one of the people who sets multiple alarms on multiple devices every single day. You can pick thousands of clock apps in the Google Play Store that will do the work and there you got an infinitely customisable alarm clock to sit beside your bed without worrying have you set up the alarm on your main phone when this one will always be ready for it.